quiz

Aisling Bea on This Way Up, finding humour in hardship and joining the world of “Big Girl work”

Aisling Bea in This Way Up (credit: Channel 4)

A panel-show stalwart, Bea has crafted a successful career on the comedy circuit, becoming a familiar favourite on shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown, Taskmaster and Live at the Apollo.

With This Way Up, Bea finds her signature voice in the world of TV’s scripted comedy. A triple threat as the writer, executive producer and star of the series, Bea has taken less of a cautious first step, and more a running leap into the creative medium.

A first look trailer has been released for ITV drama Quiz

Matthew Macfadyen (Credit: ITV)

The series, adapted from Graham’s play of the same name, explores the story of the ‘coughing major’, which saw Charles (Matthew Macfadyen), Diana Ingram (Sian Clifford) and Tecwen Whittock (Michael Jibson) cheat their way to a million pounds on the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

The “audacious heist” took place in 2001, when Major Ingram was a contestant on the show and with the help of his wife Diana and accomplice Whittock, navigated the notoriously difficult quiz to win the top price.

James Graham explores the story behind the Coughing Major in his new drama

James Graham

James Graham was an undergraduate at Hull University when he became fascinated by daily press reports of the trial of a respectable home counties couple accused of cheating their way to the top prize in ITV’s Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? At the time, Millionaire was one of the biggest shows on TV, achieving audiences of more than 8 million; at its peak, an incredible 19 million tuned into the programme.

RTS Halloween TV Quiz

 

Al Murray heads to Quest with new comedy quiz show

Al Murray

Al Murray’s Great British Pub Quiz sees the UK’s most passionate pub teams compete against each other for a cash prize and the prestigious golden tankard.

Joined by a special celebrity guest each episode, Murray will test the pub team’s knowledge with brain teasers, picture rounds, mystery objects and classic pub style questions on a variety of topics.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the studio will have all the features of a working pub, with actor Shaun Williamson (Extras) keeping score as resident barman.

Noddy Holder hosts RTS Midlands Big Telly Quiz

Hosted by Slade star and local living legend, Noddy Holder, the teams were put to the test on all things “telly” – and, as an extra treat, BBC WM’s Richie Anderson fronted the interval game.

“The Radio Brainwaves”, a team from BBC Radio claimed the top spot, beating other teams from the BBC, Central News, members of the Doctors cast and The Producers’ Forum, as well as independent production companies such as North One and Full Fat Television.